House Bill 433

(As Sent to Governor)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 7-7-27, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF STATE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING AND THE LOCAL BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF A COMMUNITY OR JUNIOR COLLEGE TO ADOPT RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR INSTITUTIONS UNDER THEIR GOVERNANCE FOR THE WAIVER OF CERTIFICATION THAT GOODS OR SERVICES HAVE BEEN RECEIVED OR PERFORMED; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 7-7-27, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

7-7-27. (1) Except as provided otherwise in subsection (2) of this section, all claims against the state as the result of purchases, services, salaries, travel expense, or other encumbrances made or liabilities incurred by any officer, department, division, board, commission, institution or other agency of the state authorized to incur such obligations, whether as the result of the issuance of purchase orders, as hereinabove provided, or not, shall be filed with, certified and approved by the agency incurring such obligation pursuant to rules and regulations established by the Department of Finance and Administration. These rules and regulations shall set forth certain circumstances where certification by the approving officers that the goods and services have been received or performed may be waived by the Department of Finance and Administration. Such waivers may pertain to, but should not be limited to, service contracts of limited time periods for lease of office space and equipment, computer software and subgrantee disbursements under federal grant programs.

(2) The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning and the local board of trustees of a community or junior college shall adopt rules and regulations for institutions under their governance for the waiver of certification that goods or services have been received or performed. These rules and regulations shall be consistent with those established by the Department of Finance and Administration under subsection (1) of this section.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.